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Floppy/droopy eyelids despite cpap treatment - Visitor - 04-29-2017
I am having an issue that I can't get resolved (yet) through my specialist:
During cpap treatment, one of my eyelids started to droop. Very noticeable on waking--awful sight. Later on the second one started to droop too. I was referred to an eye specialist. He advised that it was due to the cpap treatment--air blowing on my eyes. My cpap specialist thinks the problem may be interior rather than exterior: a connection from the nose from which air reaches the eyelid. The first specialist advised covering the eyelids. The second to lower the pressure. I did both with moderate initial success. Lowered pressure to range from 5 - 9. And I'm wearing an airplane eye mask for sleeping. Moderate improvement for a while but now I'm back to square one. AHI consistently near zero which makes me a model patient. CPAP specialist now advised to drop cpap treatment and switch to mouth piece treatment. I had one made, but it is uncomfortable so far and I really like the cpap treatment (after a long battle with it) so still hope someone here might have a solution. Please, if you have expertise in this area, share your thoughts. I am getting desperate. Has been going on for more than a year now. Only info indicates that OSA can be the cause of this condition (e.g. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1212978-overview
). I stopped the treatment for a while on advise of my specialist. Again, matters got better, then the drooping eyelid reoccured, but more rarely it seemed.
RE: Floppy/droopy eyelids despite cpap treatment - xxyzx - 04-29-2017
(04-29-2017, 10:01 AM)Visitor Wrote: I am having an issue that I can't get resolved (yet) through my specialist:
During cpap treatment, one of my eyelids started to droop. Very noticeable on waking--awful sight. Later on the second one started to droop too. I was referred to an eye specialist. He advised that it was due to the cpap treatment--air blowing on my eyes. My cpap specialist thinks the problem may be interior rather than exterior: a connection from the nose from which air reaches the eyelid. The first specialist advised covering the eyelids. The second to lower the pressure. I did both with moderate initial success. Lowered pressure to range from 5 - 9. And I'm wearing an airplane eye mask for sleeping. Moderate improvement for a while but now I'm back to square one. AHI consistently near zero which makes me a model patient. CPAP specialist now advised to drop cpap treatment and switch to mouth piece treatment. I had one made, but it is uncomfortable so far and I really like the cpap treatment (after a long battle with it) so still hope someone here might have a solution. Please, if you have expertise in this area, share your thoughts. I am getting desperate. Has been going on for more than a year now. Only info indicates that OSA can be the cause of this condition (e.g. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1212978-overview
). I stopped the treatment for a while on advise of my specialist. Again, matters got better, then the drooping eyelid reoccured, but more rarely it seemed.
If your specialist cant resolve it why do you think we can?
Seems to be you have choices to make.
What is more important your eyes or your sleep.
Would an oral device and better eyes be better than cpap plus droopy lids?
Only you can answer that.
I suspect the mask is irritating a nerve that affects the eyelids but you need to see an opthomologist to find out for sure.
Other things can cause droopy lids. See an optho to find out what it is.
Whilst doctors hate to admit there can be more than one cause of a patients problems, in real life there are often multiple interacting causes.
RE: Floppy/droopy eyelids despite cpap treatment - quiescence at last - 04-29-2017
look into a TOTAL mask, one that is more like a spacesuit -- this fits against your forehead and under your chin, and side of face. this will make the pressure be the same in your nose, mouth and eyes. That equal pressure will keep air flow to eyes via internal passages/ducts from occurring.
QAL
RE: Floppy/droopy eyelids despite cpap treatment - Mosquitobait - 04-29-2017
Go to an opthomologist and have your eyelids evaluated. In some cases, it isn't so much the cpap causing it as revealing a problem earlier. Your sleep doc knows nothing about eyes.
RE: Floppy/droopy eyelids despite cpap treatment - ajack - 04-29-2017
I haven't read that being a side effect of cpap blowing to the eyes. I would think it's more neurological in nature. My father has it when he wakes up, but it comes good in a few minutes. He isn't on cpap.
Is it possible that the mask is pressing on a nerve, would be the only cpap thing I would think and it's well down the list. I don't think any eye lid nerves are in that area
RE: Floppy/droopy eyelids despite cpap treatment - Visitor - 04-29-2017
I already visited an ophthalmic surgeon who relayed the cause to cpap. I trust my specialists, but I also check around to learn more about possibilities which I subsequently can discuss when visiting them. QAL, thanks, that is interesting advice. I considered switching to a mask covering nose and mouth but had not considered a full face mask like the one you suggest. Pressure balance makes sense. I imagine that wearing such a mask is not easy. I use the P10, nasal pillows, which has been ideal, bar these symptoms of course. I had trouble with irritation of the skin with prior masks, though I have a way around it if needed. My insurance does not pay for masks, so buying new masks is very expensive. Do any of you have experience with wearing this type of full face mask (covering the eyes as well)? Any recommendations?
RE: Floppy/droopy eyelids despite cpap treatment - stanleydean - 04-29-2017
Hello Visitor,
It surprises me that no other forum members have mentioned that they have this problem, particularly if it is in any way related to CPAP use. About a year and a half ago I had surgery on both eyelids performed by an opthamologist for removal of excess skin from my droopy eyelids but this is mostly age related and is not uncommon. However, if your problen goes away after you come off CPAP for the day it probably is not the same. It's just strange that someone else on this forum has not surfaced with the same or a similar experience. This is one you will have to keep digging into in order to find a solution. Poke around in Google and other search engines and whatever else you can find on line. If you have friends who are nurses or are in any medical profession ask them. There's gonna be an answer out there somewhere.
I don't think you said but does this condition improve through the day or is it with you all during the day? Also, if you are now receiving senior discounts it could be the start of the age related thing I mentioned. Stick to it and good luck. Keep us posted.
Stan
RE: Floppy/droopy eyelids despite cpap treatment - xxyzx - 04-29-2017
(04-29-2017, 01:59 PM)Visitor Wrote: I already visited an ophthalmic surgeon who relayed the cause to cpap. I trust my specialists, but I also check around to learn more about possibilities which I subsequently can discuss when visiting them. QAL, thanks, that is interesting advice. I considered switching to a mask covering nose and mouth but had not considered a full face mask like the one you suggest. Pressure balance makes sense. I imagine that wearing such a mask is not easy. I use the P10, nasal pillows, which has been ideal, bar these symptoms of course. I had trouble with irritation of the skin with prior masks, though I have a way around it if needed. My insurance does not pay for masks, so buying new masks is very expensive. Do any of you have experience with wearing this type of full face mask (covering the eyes as well)? Any recommendations?
like the ad said
you got the wrong insurance company
did you get stuck with bamacare ??
mine replaces masks with new ones every 6 months
ditto hoses and water tub
filters every month
RE: Floppy/droopy eyelids despite cpap treatment - Visitor - 04-29-2017
Yes, quite a puzzle.
RE: Floppy/droopy eyelids despite cpap treatment - OpalRose - 04-29-2017
Visitor,
Check some of the suppliers, like Supplier #1 for the Fit Life Total Face Mask.
There is a price reduction.... not much more than the cost of the P10.
Since you are self paying, use a supplier that offers a 30 day free trial.